ECOWAS Launches Regional Tourism Capacity Building Programme
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has launched a regional tourism capacity-building program in Banjul, The Gambia, aimed at strengthening cooperation and investment across its 12 Member States. The initiative, approved by ECOWAS Commission President Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, seeks to enhance tourism standards, facilitate mobility, and promote job creation as part of the region’s broader economic integration strategy. The program is being implemented under the leadership of Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Mrs. Massandje Touré-Litsé.
During the opening session, Dr. Tony Elumelu, ECOWAS Director of Private Sector, highlighted the need for a harmonised approach to tourism development, including the ECOTOR 1929 policy, which sets common service and hospitality standards across the region. The program includes technical workshops, policy discussions, and practical training on hotel classification, regulatory frameworks, and sustainable tourism management, with a focus on youth and women’s employment. Participants will define concrete action points and monitoring mechanisms to ensure long-term implementation, aligning with ECOWAS Vision 2050 to position tourism as a key pillar of sustainable growth and regional cooperation.
Source: APO Group
